Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1887-03-24
From our Regular Correspondent.
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Mar. IA, 1887.

WASHINGTON, Mar. IA, 1887.
The question of an extra session of the
Fftieth Congress to begin in October and
run into the regular session, is now
topic of speculation here. Officers of the
Executive Departments hope such
calamity will be averted. as the President
is reported as saying that he would not
call Congress together unless 1t became
necessary, in order to avoid financial
depression. Officers of the Departments
have a much happier life when Congress
is away, for with it always comes horde
of officers hunters which fingers as long
as the session lasts.
But the business of this great country
has grown too vast to be carried on by the
methods which served well enough half
century ago. Not one-tcnth of the work
that Congress ought to do ever gets done
at all, and one of the chief reasons for this
is the waste of time from March to jan
uary, for although Congress meets on the
first Monday in December. it never gets
down to business before the holidays.
The cure for this is in the Presidents
hands The Fiftieth Congress began its Of
fetal existence on the ith of this month
and its members are now on pay. He has
only to exercise his prerogativc of conven-
ing Congress and pointing out the work
which most needs its attention. If he neg
lccts to do this he will be largely reSpon-
sible for the failure of necessary lcgisla
tion.
The most important legislation expected
Of the Congress just ended failed because
Of the stupid organization of the House
Speaker Carlisle demonstrated an utter lack
of judgement and political leadership in
assigning Mr.. Randall to a controlling pos
ition which that gentleman used to defeat
his party's pledges. 1t is stated that since
the adjournment Of Congress, several
prominent democratic members have told
Mr. Carlisle that unless he promised to
keep Mr. Randall of the Appropriations
Committee at the next session. they would
not support him Carlisle for reelection
to the Speakership.
The hundreds of Government clerks who
are suffering from the unsantary condition
of the Treasury building, place all of the
responsibility for the failure of the bill to
improve it on Mr.. Randall> shoulders.
His disposition i to oppose all appro-
priations that are not in his opinion nccc~-
Sary, when spoken to in regard 70 the
unhcalthful air Of the Treasury he fool
i>hly remarked that he had visited that de
partmcnt on several occasions and could
not smell any sewer gas.
The Democratic party promises To be
weakened in the next Congress even be
yond it, present condition. The Fifticth
Congress will come in with two-thr,i~ Of
the Democrats new men, and those who
have studied its composition care tully since
the election agree that the personnel l.
weak 4 Democratic member who was
talking on the subject recently, acknow-
ledgcd that everything in the last House
went To the bad. a far a~ the party Was
concerned. for want of a leader and he adj
dcd that the next House would be Il mere
plaything in the hands of the Republicans
on account Of the new recruits on the other
side who are utterly without experience or
reputation II requires an apprenticeship
OF two wears for "A man to learn the par
liameutary rules and working methods Of
Congress, and in the matter Of leadership
the Republicans stood in bold contrast To
the Democrats in the House which has just
closed its existence
As Senator Edmuud- is seldom drawn in
to free expressions OF his views on certain
subjects, they ar all the more priced when
he does occasionally indulge in talk. In
his opinion, Mr.. Cleyelands Admini>tra-
tion Is not successful whatever the desires
and intentions Of those at the head Of af-
fairs may have been. 1t was impossible
with the weight of party so composed
While all the Presidents have made some
bad appointments he thinks Mr. Cleveland
has been more often betrayed than any. \
lHi percentage VI III ipItIliNt'N iANf
been either incompetent or improper per-
sons, or, being competent have been
rascal~. Some Of these men he has select !
ed without knowing anything about them;
Others he ha, appointed upon the endorse /
ment Of members of Congress of his own !
party who have not hesitatcd to bctray his /
confidence.
President Cleveland has been pulled /
both ways" continued the Senator from
Vermont, between his civil service reform /
pledges and the party pressure. Sometimes |
he appeared to hold to the one and some /
times to yield to the other" The Senator
firmly believes that the Democrats will re-
nominate him, however for fear they can
not find another man who would do aS
we'll.